Introduction There are four main molecules that are observed in all living things and that are essential for all life. These organic compounds are carbohydrates, protein, nucleic acids, and lipids. In biology, these are known as macromolecules. Macromolecules, with the exception of lipids, are long molecules that consist of many smaller molecules (monomers) that are linked together through covalent bonds, called polymers. The polymer consists of many identical or similar monomer. (Reese Et. Al., 2015) Each of these four molecules performs specific functions. Different reagents are used when determining if these molecules are present in any given substance. My colleges and I performed four test to determine if these macromolecules were present in the food items that were tested. We tested for simple sugars, starch, protein, lipids, and pH. …show more content…
Al., 2015) and are better known as starches and sugars. Their molecular compound is made of Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen; very often in a Cn(H20)n ratio. (Reese, Et. Al., 2015) Monosaccharides (e.g. glucose, fructose, galactose) are the monomers of carbohydrates. (Reese, Et. Al., 2015) Two or more monosaccharides are disaccharides (e.g. sucrose). Both of these sugars are a relatively small molecule. Three or more monosaccharides are called a polysaccharide. Polysaccharides (e.g. starch and cellulose) are very large molecules that are connected by dehydrogenation (the removal of water) to form a covalent bond between a central carbon. (Reese, Et. Al., 2015) Simple sugars are detected by using Benedict’s test and the IKI test identifies if starch is
They are all polymers made during dehydration synthesis reactions from monomers. These reactions result in the loss of water forming strong covalent bonds. They are referred to as endergonic reactions since they require an input of energy. Hydrolytic reactions are the opposite as they break polymers into single unit monomers using water and in the process releasing energy thus referred to as exergonic reactions (Gorrod, 1985). The monomer form of carbohydrates is a monosaccharide e.g. glucose (used for energy in cells), fructose and ribose. When two monosaccharides undergo a dehydration synthesis reaction they form a disaccharide e.g. sucrose, which is a combination of glucose and fructose. Sucrose is used for transport in plants. Polysaccharides consist of three or more covalently bonded monosaccharides. Starch and glycogen are good examples and are both used in energy storage in plants and animals respectively. Monomers of lipids are fatty acids and glycerol while amino acids are monomers of proteins. Amino acids mainly function to regulate different cell functions as well as catalyze various cell reactions. Nucleotides are the monomers of nucleic acids and they function in storing the genetic information of a cell (DNA) and synthesis of proteins (RNA). All these monomers undergo dehydration synthesis reactions to form their corresponding polymers and are used in
The purpose of this lab was to test different substances using various procedures to see what biomolecules were present and ultimately find out what restaurant Anna Lyza had eaten at before she died. For the first control test, we used vegetable oil to test for lipids. So, if the solution does not contain lipids, it does not become translucent when placed onto a paper bag square and held up to a light. So, it is a negative result. However, in the presence of lipids, the solution will become translucent when placed onto a paper bag square and held up to a light. Therefore in this case, the result is positive. On the other hand, we used albumin egg to test for proteins in another control test. If the solution does not contain proteins, it will not experience any color change and so it is a negative result. When there are proteins existing in the solution, it will turn bluish/purplish and for this reason it is a positive result. Furthermore in the third control test, we used dextrose to test for simple carbohydrates such as glucose. If the solution does not contain simple carbohydrates, it will not undergo any color change and will remain a blue color. So, it is a negative result in this circumstance. If there are simple carbohydrates present in the solution, the solution will turn reddish and so the result is positive. For the last control test, we used starch solution to test
All living things contain some form of organic macromolecules including: Lipids, proteins, carbohydrates and nucleic acids. All of these organic molecules are alike in the sense that is they are made up of bonded elements such as carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and to smaller quantities nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur. The macromolecules each contain large long chains of carbon and hydrogen atoms and often consists of repeating smaller molecules bonded together in a repeating pattern (polymers). To test whether a specific solid white substance is a protein is simple due to the unique chains found in the respective type of macromolecule. To test if the substance is a carbohydrate, two tests could be performed on separate samples of the object. First,
The most common macromolecules found in living organisms are lipids, carbohydrates, proteins and nucleic acids. Briefly, the meaning of macromolecules is that they normally contain two or more molecules in them and their main functions are to store energy, information and much more. Most foods are known to be combinations of macromolecules. While some of these compounds can be detected by taste tests, many cannot. Scientists then use certain tests to determine the presence of macromolecules.
Macromolecules are present in each of the five foods being tested which are pretzels, green peas, apple juice, biscuit mix and bacon bits. To determine this, reagents for the four macromolecules are being used which are Benedict’s, Iodine, Sudan IV and Biuret Solution. The independent variable in this experiment are the different foods being tested. The dependent variable in this experiment is the presence of the macromolecules.
A monosaccharide is a carbohydrate that doesn’t hydrolize. A disaccharide is a group of that yield monosaccharides on hydrolosis. Lastly, polysaccharide is a carbohydrate that contains more than three monosaccharide units per molecule.
a. Proteins- macromolecules made of amino acids. Proteins have many functions in the body. Some sources of proteins are whole-grain cereals, dark breads,rice, beans, and meat.
7)a) You would do the Benedict’s reagent test for simple sugars and the Lugol’s solution or Iodine test for polysaccharides and starch. To test the lipids you would use the Sudan iV test and Biurets reagent test for protein.
Carbohydrates are sugars and starches and are made of monomers called saccharides, which are connected together to make a polymer called polysaccharides. Carbohydrates give energy to living things, and a special type of carbohydrate called cellulose makes a plant’s cell walls. Proteins are made of monomers called amino acids. Proteins make up the muscles and structural tissue in a body, and they make enzymes which control chemical reactions. Proteins form peptide bonds between amino acids, which make up a polypeptide.
Theory: There are three types of Carbohydrates, monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides. The two, which I will be looking at, are, monosaccharide (glucose) and the disaccharide (maltose)
Carbohydrates are usually known as sugars and they have the general formula Cx(H2O)y (Elmhurst College, 2003). Depending on the number of monomers, carbohydrates can be monosacharides, oligosaccharides or polysaccharides. Monomers are the single monosaccharide units alone. Oligosaccharides can contain from 2 to 10 monosaccharides and polysaccharides are made of many monosaccharides. They may also contain either a ketone or aldehyde functional group (King, 2014). Some examples of monosaccharide include- glucose, galactose and fructose. Disaccharides are part of oligosaccharides-they contain 2 monomer units - maltose is made of 2 glucose molecules, lactose made of a galactose and glucose molecule and sucrose which consists of a glucose and fructose molecule serve as some examples. They are bound together by 1, 4 glycosidic bonds. Cellulose, starch and glycogen are examples of polysaccharides –their monomers are bound by 1,4 as well as 1.6 glycosidic bonds. (Pearson Education, Inc, 2013).
Starch or amylum is a carbohydrate consisting of a large number of glucose units joined by glycosidic bonds. This polysaccharide is produced by all green plants as an energy store. It is the most common carbohydrate in the human diet and is contained in large amounts in such staple foods as potatoes, wheat, maize (corn), rice, and cassava.
Carbohydrates are fundamental for managing a pleasant state of the body’s health. It is the main source of energy that is made available for human to be ingested and synthesized, as it yields glucose. Vital organs including, the heart, brain and skeletal muscles are dependent on glucose as the primary source of energy in order to function normally. Monosaccharides are the basic unit of sugars as it comes in different forms judged on different molecules linked together or as a chain (Figure 1.0). Disaccharides and polysaccharides are monosaccharide polymers linked by glycosidic bonds and have many evident benefits such as abundant sources for energy,
There are three types of monosaccharides; Glucose, Fructose, and Galactose. Monosaccharides are a type of sugar and often called simple carbohydrates. These different sugars all have the same structures consisting of 6 carbon atoms, 12 hydrogens, and 6 oxygen atoms. They all follow the rules of chemistry with each carbon atom having 4 bonds, oxygen having 2, and hydrogen 1 bond. The difference between each of these is the order of arrangement of the atoms and therefore each provide a different amount of sweetness. Glucose is also known as blood sugar and is very important to the body’s activities as it is an essential energy source. Fructose, having the same chemical formula of glucose, is considered the sweetest of the sugars. Galactose is a naturally occurring sugar in foods as a single sugar. The order difference of these bonds is shown in the following reference pictures found in Understanding Nutrition. (Whitney & Rolfes, 2014, p101)
1) Monosacchrides: Mono means single and saccharides refer to sugar. These are the simple form of carbohydrates that consists carbon, hydrogen and oxygen in the ratio of 1:2:1 (Ahmed 2014).